Most of the time it wears a cloud. Sometimes all day.
Early in the morning it stands clear: a cone like a drawing, in the middle of the rainforest.
It no longer glows. It has been quiet since 2010 – and is still the reason to come.
Scroll –
wait for it to appear
First, what many old guidebooks leave out: nothing glows at Arenal anymore. Continuous activity ended in 2010, the last lava flow stopped in January 2011, and no glow has been observed since. If you come for red lava at night, you'll be disappointed. What you do get: a nearly perfect cone above the rainforest, trails over the solidified 1968 and 1992 flows, Lake Arenal, and hot springs. The volcano institute OVSICORI has the mountain at level 1 "Calma," the lowest activity level.
The volcano's cone and neighboring Cerro Chato with its green lagoon are completely closed – guided or not. There is no legal way up and no permit available on request. Since 30 April 2026, press reports say fines apply under Law No. 10.861.
Both entrances – Sector Volcán with the 1992 lava field and the lakeside Sector Península – are open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, including holidays. You pay at the ticket booth on site. There is no online ticket or time slot for Arenal.
Arenal 1968, the Arenal Observatory Lodge, the Místico hanging bridges and the hot springs along Route 142 each have their own admission and hours – some longer than the national park. Místico requires a reservation.
Photo: Yricordel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Every trail ends at the foot of the mountain. That sounds like little – until you're standing on the lava field.
From the park's control house it's about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) to the 1992 flow: first secondary forest, then a short, uneven climb over coarse black blocks. There's no shade up top, but a clear view – the cone ahead, Lake Arenal behind. Ferns and young trees are already growing back on the blocks; you can watch the forest reclaiming it.
The El Ceibo loop (2.3 km/1.4 miles, largely flat) runs through the forest to an old ceiba tree. With luck you'll hear howler monkeys before you see them. Whether the summit is clear is up to the weather: La Fortuna sits on the rainy Caribbean side, and most travelers find clouds build up through the morning. Being at the ticket booth by 8 am gives you the best odds. No month and no tour can guarantee a clear cone.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 21 September 2026. None of these tours goes to the summit – that would be illegal. Whether the cone is clear is up to the weather.
Arenal is one of the few major parks in Costa Rica without an online ticket. If you're coming from Poás or Río Celeste, you'll search the SINAC system in vain – Arenal isn't on the list. But on the mountain itself, the country's strictest rule applies.
You buy admission right at the park's ticket booth. Per SINAC, parks without the online system take credit or debit card; whether Arenal also accepts cash is not documented. Bring a card.
The often-quoted $15 is the net rate. A 13% VAT is added to every SINAC admission. Children 2 to 12 pay $5.65, younger children nothing. There's no refund for clouds or rain.
All trails in the national park and the private reserves are marked and can be walked alone. A nature guide is worthwhile for spotting wildlife but isn't required. Dogs are banned in all SINAC areas.
Anyone offering an "Arenal summit hike" or "Cerro Chato" tour is acting illegally. Per press reports, since 30 April 2026 guests are fined too – and anyone who needs rescuing pays extra. SINAC has announced stepped-up checks, including at night.
| Arenal Volcano National Park, foreign visitors 13+ ($15 + 13% VAT) | $16.95 (approx. €15) |
| National park, foreign children 2–12 · free under 2 | $5.65 (approx. €5) |
| National park, Costa Ricans and residents: adults / children | ₡1,000 / ₡500 |
| Arenal Observatory Lodge: Entrance Pass / Day Pass with lunch | $22 (approx. €19) / $40 (approx. €35) |
| Místico Hanging Bridges, self-guided: morning / afternoon, plus tax | from $32 / from $28 |
| Entering a closed zone (3 base salaries) – also applies to advertising banned tours, including on social media | ₡1,386,600 |
| Operators who sell such tours (7 base salaries) | ₡3,235,400 |
| Guides and operators who take guests into high-risk zones (10 base salaries), plus confiscation of equipment | ₡4,622,000 |
| Surcharge per person rescued (5 base salaries); repeat offenders pay 50% more and get a one-year park ban | ₡2,311,000 |
None of them go up. But four trail networks bring you close to the cone – two state entrances, two private neighbors.
| National park, Sector Volcán – Las Coladas, El Ceibo, Heliconias, Los Tucanes, Los Miradores trails. About 1.5 km (0.9 miles) to the 1992 lava field with its viewpoint; El Ceibo loop 2.3 km (1.4 miles), largely flat. Daily 8 am–4 pm. | 2–3 hours · $16.95 |
| National park, Sector Península – second entrance on Lake Arenal: two paved trails to the shore, a multi-level viewing tower, one trail built for limited mobility. Whether one ticket covers both sectors the same day is unclear – ask at the booth. | 1–1.5 hours · same rate |
| Arenal 1968 (private) – Sendero Colada 1968 (2.5 km/1.6 miles) over the 1968 lava flow, Sendero Bosque 1968 (4.5 km/2.8 miles) around Los Patos lagoon. Price and hours come from a travel portal; the operator's own website lists no price. | 1.5–2.5 hours per trail · about $25, unconfirmed |
| Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails (private) – 11 km (6.8 miles) of trails on the south slope with Danta waterfall, hanging bridges, two viewing towers and a museum; 800 m (0.5 miles) wheelchair accessible. Daily 5:30 am–5:30 pm, trails until 5 pm. | half day to full day · $22 |
If the cone is stuck in cloud, the day isn't wasted. These four spots work in any weather – and since the national park has no time slots, you can push your visit to the next clear morning.
Right next to the national park access road: two loop trails over the 1968 flow and through forest to Los Patos lagoon, about 7 km (4.3 miles) combined. Per a travel portal, open longer than the park (8 am–5 pm, last entry 4 pm).
The closest legally reachable viewpoint to the crater with infrastructure: towers, a café, wide trails. Online booking recommended, payment at the gate possible.
A 3.2 km (2 mile) loop with six hanging bridges and ten fixed bridges through the rainforest, about two hours. Admission every 30 minutes from 6:00 am to 3:50 pm, reservation required, closed shoes mandatory.
The Río Tabacón is warmed by the volcano; several thermal resorts with day passes line the road. Spots are capped – reserve ahead. We did not verify official prices.
Photo: Peloy (Allan H.M.) · CC BY-SA 3.0
By car: From La Fortuna on Route 142 toward Tilarán/Nuevo Arenal, after about 15 km (9 miles) turn left to the national park ticket booth. The same gravel road continues to Arenal 1968 and the Observatory Lodge. Parking at the ticket booth; the Sector Península lot is small.
You are most likely to see the free cone early in the morning, between sunrise and about 9 am; clouds build up through the day almost every time. The drier months are February to April, but La Fortuna sits on the rainy Caribbean side of the divide and has no sharp dry season – it rains regularly even in the "summer," and in September/October the weather here is often better than on the Pacific coast. Staying several days significantly raises your odds of a cloud-free morning.
Per the ICT route, it's about three to three and a half hours each way from San José – so day tours run about 14 hours. If you're already in La Fortuna, fill a cloudy afternoon with wildlife instead of views.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 21 September 2026. At night at Arenal you'll see frogs and snakes, not lava.
Yes, if you know what you're getting: one of Central America's most striking volcanic cones, trails across young lava fields, rainforest with hanging bridges, and hot springs. No, if you want to see glowing lava – that hasn't existed since 2010/2011.
Sources disagree: La Nación and OVSICORI give 1,670 m (5,479 ft), Wikipedia 1,633 m (5,358 ft), the National Seismological Network about 1,750 m (5,741 ft). It doesn't matter for visitors – every trail lies at the foot of the mountain.
Several. There are no fixed time slots at Arenal, so you can save the national park for the clearest morning and spend other days on hanging bridges, a waterfall, or hot springs.
Full-day tours combine a waterfall, a hike near the volcano and hot springs (about 10 hours); the 6-hour morning tour is the cheapest option. What's actually included – admission fees, food, the hot spring – is listed in the operator's description; check before booking.
Yes, Tenorio National Park and the Río Celeste are a common day trip from La Fortuna. Unlike Arenal, you need an online ticket there – details on our Río Celeste page.
No. The cone is completely closed because of gases, loose rock and landslide risk, as is neighboring Cerro Chato. Since 30 April 2026, an illegal climb carries a fine of at least ₡1,386,600 under Law No. 10.861, up to ₡4,622,000 for guides.
No. Continuous activity ended in 2010, and the last lava flow stopped in January 2011. The volcano has been at the lowest activity level ever since; what you see are the solidified lava fields and, occasionally, a plume of steam.
No. Unlike Poás, Rincón de la Vieja or Tenorio, Arenal is not in the SINAC online system. You pay at the park ticket booth, by credit or debit card per SINAC, and you don't need a time slot.
Foreign adults pay $15 plus 13% VAT, so $16.95 (about €15). Children 2 to 12 pay $5.65; younger children are free.
Daily from 8 am to 4 pm, with no closing day, including holidays. That applies to both entrances, Sector Volcán and the lakeside Sector Península.
No, the trails in the national park and the private reserves are marked and can be walked alone. A nature guide is worthwhile for spotting wildlife but not required.
Plan two to three hours for the 1992 lava field with its viewpoint and the El Ceibo loop (2.3 km/1.4 miles). Sector Península on the lake takes one to one and a half hours.
The national park is state-run, costs $16.95 and leads to the 1992 lava flow. Arenal 1968 is a private reserve next door with two loop trails (2.5 and 4.5 km/1.6 and 2.8 miles) over the 1968 flow and longer hours; admission runs about $25.
Early morning, before the clouds build up. February to April are a bit drier, but La Fortuna sits on the Caribbean side and has no reliable dry season – staying several days is your best insurance.
Not on the official trails: OVSICORI has the volcano at level 1 "Calma," and the CNE has issued no warning. The closed cone, with its gas vents and unstable slopes, is dangerous. Still, the 1968 eruption, which killed around 80 people, struck without warning – which is why the mountain is monitored continuously.
Yes. The trails are short with no fall hazards, and children 2 to 12 pay a reduced rate. The lava field's surface is coarse, so sturdy shoes are needed.
By rental car or taxi, about 15 km (9 miles) on Route 142 toward Tilarán, then left to the ticket booth. The same gravel road continues to Arenal 1968 and the Observatory Lodge.
Sources · accessed on 21 September 2026
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